Westerly Middle School

Westerly, Rhode Island

FIRM

CLIENT

Westerly Public Schools

AREA

148,500 sq.ft.

TOTAL COST

$24,400,000.00

COMPLETION DATE

9/2005

The intent of Westerly’s Vision 20/20 Initiative was to alleviate overcrowding and provide a long-term plan to improve all school facilities in the town of Westerly. Phase I included the design and construction of the new Westerly Middle School. The new grade 6 to 8 school is separated into pods with each having two entrances, four classrooms, a science laboratory, ADDITIONAL INFORMATIONCAPACITY1,000COST PER SQ FT$164.00CITATIONMiddle School CitationFEATURED IN2007 Architectural Portfolio conference room and common room. Each grade occupies one floor within the school. Additional features include a 400-seat auditorium, 335-seat cafeteria, media center and high school-sized gymnasium. The auditorium and cafeteria include measures for acoustical control, and the art classrooms include a kiln and computer stations for graphic arts.

Color is used throughout the facility, beginning at the front and driving through each pod to the rear exterior of the school. Each color reflects the different geometries used throughout the building and represents the three different grades within. Westerly Middle School meets the objectives of Vision 20/20, providing the needed space for both current and future enrollments in a state-of-the-art environment.

“Well-planned small learning communities. Nice use of color consistent throughout the building.”--2007 jury